Skate



H. S. EAMES.

Feb. 6, 1923.

SKATE.

FILED NOV. 13, 1920.

Patented Feb. 6, I923.

HERBERT s. EAMES, or FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS,

SKATE.

Application filed November 13, 1920. SerialNo. 423,955.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. EAMEs, a citizen of thellnited States, and resident of Framingham. in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts. have invent-ed an Improvement in Skates, of which the following description, in connection wall the accompnaying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

y invention relates to skates and particularly but not exclusively to ice skates, and'in this last respect relates to devices generally when provided with runners adapted to engage ice or other surfaces.

My invention will be best understood from the accompanying drawings when read in light of the following specification of a specific embodiment of my invention, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows an elevation of the submittedenibodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the bottom of the device according to Fig. 1; while Fig. is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings I have shown an ice skate provided with a foot rest or plate 1 and an ice engaging member comprising the runners 2 and 3. In proportioning the parts I take advantage of the principle that a light yet rigid structure may be evolved by so disposing relatively light flexible members as to secure a great sectional moment of inertia. I

To this end the plate is formed of a light somewhat flexible portion, preferably of cast aluminum and. integrally formed therewith I provide the lugs or stiffening ribs 4, 5 and 6. It will be observed that it is necessary to cast the plate from one end and as the body portion is relatively thin the lugs 4, 5 and 6, particularly the ones most remote from the sprue must be small for the reason the cooling of the body portion of the plate traps metal in the cavity of the mold forming the lug. As the metal shrinks in passing from the liquid to the solid state. if the lug were large itwould be impossible to form the casting-without the portion adjacent the lug being misformed. For this reason, I preferably make the lugs small, position ng one at each end of the plate and one at an intermediate portion of the plate.

The runners I have shown as light, flexible members, each side to side relation thereto by rivets 12. By this means the portions of the lugs overlapping the runners stiffen the individual runners and the pair of runners act to stiffen the plate and form a rigid assembly. Preferably for further stiffening the runners and" preventing shearing of the rivets I form the lugs with shoulders 13 against which the upper edge of the runnersbear. I provide the usual heel strap 7, secured to the plate by means of pins or like fasteners 8. To stiffen the adjacent portion of the plate and provide material for receivmg the plns, I provide the radially disposed ribs 9 cast integrally with the under portion of the plate. To prevent the pulling out of the pins 8 I provide'the transversely disposed auxiliary pins 14 which as illustrated'by Figs. 2 and 3 securely fasten the pins 8 to the plate and ribs. At the forward end of the skate I secure the toe strap 10.

Although the runners may be formed of any flexible material having wear resisting qualities. I preferably form the same of mild secured to the lugs and in steel and case harden the opposite sides of l the runners. By this means a hard exterior surface is provided and a relatively soft core. It will be observed that the abrasive action is greatest at the corners between the running edge 11 and the sides of the runners and that the lesser abrasion on the softer portion of running edge intermediate the sides will cause the wear to keep the runners sharp. In a skate having but one runner I may ease harden both sides, but with the double runner arrangement shown I may case harden either both sides of the indiexample the outer sides.

Although I have described one specific embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to'the particular mechanical details thereof, but that wide deviations may be made therefrom wit-bout departing from the spirit of my invention.

, runners'being formed of thin blades of mild flfi vidual runners or but one side of each, for" steel and each having the sides thereof ease 0 with their upper edges in contact with said shoulder.

4. In a skate, a plate having a heel supporting portion of relatively thin material, and said portion having a central lug with a plurality of radiating ribs formed integrally therewith.

5. In a skate, a heel strap for fastening said skate to a shoe, a pin securing said heel strap to the body of the skate, and auxiliary means preventing removal of said pin.

6. In a skate, a heel strap for fastening said skate to a shoe, a pin securing said heel strap to the body of the skate, and an auxiliary pin securing the first mentioned pin to the body of the skate.

7. In a skate, a foot plate of thin cast material having on its under side spaced lugs arranged longitudinally thereof and cast in tegrally therewith, a pair of thin flexible runners rigidly securedto said lugs at opposite sides thereof; whereby said runners stiffen the plate,the plates stiffen the runners and a vided.

8 In a skate, a foot plate of thin cast material having on its under side spaced lugs arranged longitudinally thereof and cast integrally therewith, said-lugs being cut away on opposite sides thereof to form shoulders, a pair of thin flexible runners at opposite sides of said lugs and bearing against said cut-away portions and said shoulders, and rivets passing through said runners and lugs for securmg the parts rigidly together; whereby the lugs serve as spacers for and stiffen the runners, the shoulders take the shearing stress oft" the rivets and the runners stiffen the plate.

9. In a skate, a foot plate having on its under side spaced lugs arranged longitudinally thereof, said lugs being formed on opposite sides thereof with reduced portions providing shoulders, a pair of thin flexible runners at opposite sides of said lugs and bearing against said reduced portions and said shoulders, and rivets passing through said runners and lugs for securing the parts rigidly together; whereby the lugs serve as spacers for and stiffen the runners, the shoulders take the shearing stress off the rivets and the runners stiffen the plate.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT S. EAMES.

stifi' unitary structure is pro- 

